Planning a magical family trip to Disneyland Paris but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! With a little planning and some help from our guide, you can take the stress out of planning an epic trip to Disneyland Paris.
As annual passholders at Disneyland Paris, we’ve been to Disneyland Paris many times with our kids and have lots of tips and advice for anyone planning a visit to the parks. We’ve also stayed at all the on-site hotels and eaten at all the on-site restaurants, so we have personal experience of everything Disneyland Paris has to offer.
Disneyland Paris Planning Guide
This guide is aimed at first-time visitors. We’ve included many common questions people ask when planning their first trip to Disneyland Paris.
When to Visit Disneyland Paris
Every day of the year is a great day to visit Disneyland Paris! Some of our favourite times to visit in 2025 include
Disney Music Festival (19 April to 7 September 2025): The launch of the first ever Disney Music Festival is set to be one of the highlights of 2025. Disneyland Park will be transformed into a vibrant celebration of music with 12 unique musical celebrations spread across the park’s five lands.
Experience Disney Music Festival This Summer
If you are planning on visiting Disneyland Paris during Summer 2025, then make sure to check out the Disneyland Paris hotel and packages – check prices now!
For example, guests can enjoy an unforgettable stay at Disney Hotel Cheyenne for £123 per person, per night* for a 4-night hotel and ticket package for 2 adults and 2 children arriving between 23 July 2025 and 30 August 2025. This includes 5 days of park tickets and the benefit of Extra Magic Time, where Disney hotel guests can enter the parks one
hour before regular opening – check prices now!
* Price for this configuration may vary depending on the time of booking. Quoted price in a Woody’s Roundup Standard Room rounded to the next pound calculated by dividing the package price of £1,965.12 by 4 people (2 adults + 2 kids aged 3-11 years old) and 4 nights. Valid for arrivals between 23 July to 30 August 2025. Price includes local taxes per night per adult 18 and above. Subject to availability.
Halloween Season: One of our favourite times to visit Disneyland Paris due to the spectacular parade and fabulous decor.
Christmas Season: The festive season is truly magical at Disneyland Paris with stunning festive decorations and a wonderful parade.
Getting to Disneyland Paris: How to Arrive Stress-Free
There are a variety of transport options to Disneyland Paris, depending on where you stay.
Arriving by air
Most visitors arriving by air will arrive at one of two Parisian airports: Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) Airport or Paris Orly Airport (ORY).
Charles de Gaulle Airport is a 10-minute train ride on the TGV (France’s high-speed train) to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy at Disneyland Paris. Paris Orly Airport (ORY) is around 90 minutes from Disneyland Paris via a combination of the Metro and RER, switching at Gare de Lyon. There is also the Magical Shuttle, a bus service that takes around 1 hour from CDG or 90 minutes from Orly airport. You can also take a taxi, car service or private transfer.
Disney Express Luggage Transfer: If you’re staying in a Disney Hotel or a Partner Hotel (excluding Disney Davy Crockett Ranch and Les Villages Nature), the Disney Express luggage service is a fantastic option so you can head straight to the Disney Parks when you arrive! With this service, you drop off your luggage at a dedicated counter in Marne-La-Vallée Chessy train station, just a few minutes’ walk from the entrance to the Disney Parks, and the Disney Express Luggage Transfer will transfer it to your hotel!
From Paris by Train (RER A)
If you are staying in Paris, the easiest way to get to Disneyland Paris is via the RER rail line. The train ride from central Paris takes approximately 45 minutes. Board the RER A train toward Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy, which is the last stop and located right at Disneyland Paris. If you are staying at one of the on-site Disneyland Paris hotels, you can walk from the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station (except for Disney Davy Crockett Ranch and Les Villages Nature Paris, for which a car/taxi/bus is needed)
Driving to Disneyland Paris
Visitors can also drive to Disneyland Paris (we regularly take Le Shuttle or a ferry from the UK to France), where onsite parking costs €30 per day. If you are staying on-site, parking at your hotel is included for each day of your stay.
How long to stay at Disneyland Paris?
We would recommend a minimum of a 2 or 3 night stay to allow three full days in the parks. This allows a full day in each park and one extra day to return to anything you missed or wish to do again.
Staying for longer at Disneyland Paris will give you more time to enjoy the parks at a relaxed pace. Our ideal length of time at the parks is 4 nights/5 days. We rarely feel rushed and just have a lot of fun exploring the Disney parks.
Where to Stay at Disneyland Paris
We always recommend staying at one of the on-site hotels at Disneyland Paris. There are 6 on-site hotels at Disneyland Paris, ranging from luxury to budget with a variety of Disney-inspired themes. If you book a package directly with Disneyland Paris, it will include your hotel stay and park tickets from check-in day to check-out day. All the hotels are within easy walking distance of the parks and offer free shuttle buses every 12 minutes.
- Disneyland Hotel (5* Royal themed): the most luxurious of all the onsite hotels, Disneyland Hotel is located at the entrance to Disneyland Park and offers guests an exclusive Royal Encounter and excellent dining – check prices here!
- Disney Hotel Cheyenne (3* Toy Story themed): less than 15-minute walk to the parks. Rooms are located in Wild West-style blocks surrounding the main reception building. Jessie and Woodie meet with guests depending on the day – check prices here!
- Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel (4* Marvel themed): luxury hotel located less than 10 minutes walk to the parks. Guests have access to exclusive Marvel Super Hero meet and greets. The hotel restaurant (Downtown) is one of the most sought-after dinner reservations in all of Disneyland Paris – check prices here!
- Disney Sequoia Lodge (3* US National Park themed) – 12-minute walk to the park. Mickey and Friends meet guests daily. Rooms are located in the main hotel and surrounding lodges. We love the cosy bar with its log fire – check prices here!
- Disney Newport Bay Club (4* Nautical style decor) – 2-minute walk to parks. Mickey and Friends host the character meet and greets for guests, The hotel has a lovely bar/lounge area – check prices here!
- Disney Hotel Santa Fe (2* Cars themed) – rooms are located in Cars-themed blocks behind the main reception building. Mickey and Friends host character greets, and the hotel is a 15-minute walk to parks– check prices here!
Hotel and ticket packages can be reserved through the Disneyland Paris website and this will include access to Extra Magic Hour during your stay – check hotel prices and availability here!
Check Disney hotel availability and prices here!
Things to Book In Advance at Disneyland Paris
There are a few things that you should potentially book in advance of your trip to Disneyland Paris. These will include your hotel and tickets but also dining and any additional experiences such as the Royal Makeover at My Royal Dream at the Disneyland Hotel and the reserved viewing area for the nighttime show. You will need to decide before your visit on many of these add-ons, as they usually sell out during busy periods.
Book your Hotel and Ticket Package as Early as Possible
For the best experience and value at Disneyland Paris, we recommend purchasing a hotel and ticket package directly from Disneyland Paris. As the name implies, your tickets for each day at the parks are included, and you have the additional benefits of staying on-site at one of the fabulous Disneyland Paris hotels.
Disneyland Paris Planning Guide tip: booking your hotel and ticket package early is the best way to save money on your trip to Disneyland Paris. We recommend booking your hotel and tickets as far in advance as possible, ideally once they are released by Disneyland Paris.
We try to stay on-site at Disneyland Paris each time we visit due to the benefits of staying at the on-site hotels:
- Extra Magic Time: As a Disney hotel guest, you are granted early access, one hour in advance of regular opening time, to both the Disneyland Park and the Walt Disney Studios Park. This means you can access many of the most popular rides when queue times are minimal and enjoy the park with limited crowds.
- Hotel Character Meets: Every morning or evening, a Disney Character/ Marvel Super Hero/Disney Princess (depending on where you stay) visits each of the 6 onsite hotels for a character meet and photo with guests.
- Dining and Reserved Viewing Areas: Hotel guests can book hotel and park dining and access to the reserved viewing areas from when they reserve their stay. This is a big perk as you can secure popular dining like Princess Dining at Auberge de Cendrillon and the Royal Banquet at the Disneyland Hotel when you book your package.
- Walking distance to the parks
- Free Parking: Parking at Disneyland Paris costs EUR 30 a day but is complimentary at the onsite hotels.
- The Disney Bubble: Disneyland Paris is a magical place and a visit is almost like being wrapped in a wonderful bubble of Disney. I always find that staying onsite helps to prolong the magic!
Check Disney hotel availability and prices here!
We have a comprehensive guide to the on-site Disneyland Paris hotels to help you decide which hotel is best for you.
Book Dining in Advance
There is a wide range of dining options at the Disneyland Paris Parks and hotels, including some really enjoyable character dining experiences. You will need to book your sit-down dining and buffets before you visit as they usually book up well in advance.
Disneyland Paris Itinerary: Reservations for Disneyland Paris dining open 60 days prior for guests not staying on-site at Disneyland Paris hotels. If you are staying at a Disneyland Paris hotel you can book park and hotel dining from the date of your booking. This is a great perk as you can usually secure your dining preferences if you are booking a number of months out.
There are lots of dining options in the parks. We highly recommend the Character Dining at Plaza Gardens and the Royal Banquet, Princess Dining at Auberge de Cendrillon in Disneyland Park and PYM Kitchen in Walt Disney Studios.
All the Disneyland Paris hotels offer incredible buffets:
- Royal Banquet at the Disneyland Hotel
- Downtown Restaurant at Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel
- Cape Cod at Disney Newport Bay Club
- Chuck Wagon Café at Disney Hotel Cheyenne
- Beaver Creek Tavern at Disney Sequoia Lodge
Reserved Viewing for Nighttime Show
Disneyland Paris offers the option to purchase access to a reserved viewing area for the nighttime show. The reserved area is located directly in front of the castle and the experience is incredible. We’ve purchased the reserved viewing multiple times and find it well worth the cost as it is less crowded and offers a magnificent view of the shows.
Disneyland Paris Planning Guide tip: The reserved viewing area for the nighttime show frequently sells out days or even weeks in advance so if you are considering purchasing we recommend doing so well in advance of your trip.
My Royal Dream at the Disneyland Hotel
My Royal Dream is a Royal Makeover, offering the opportunity to become a prince or princess for the day. The royal treatment includes hair, make-up and a royal costume, depending on the chosen package.
Our children did this experience last year and loved it. We have all the details in our full guide for My Royal Dream at Disneyland Paris.
Disneyland Paris Premier Access
If you are planning to visit Disneyland Paris during peak times, it is worth considering the Disneyland Paris Premier Access Pass. There are two versions: Ultimate and One.
The Premier Access Pass Ultimate offers visitors the opportunity to pay to skip the queue on many of the most popular rides across Disneyland Paris. The pass is a one-use, 16-attraction, ride-when-you-like pass costing between €90 and €190.
The Premier Access Pass One allows guests to buy Premier Access to individual rides on the day.
We have a full guide on the Premier Access Pass so you can decide if it’s worth it for your trip. We’ve personally purchased the Premier Access Pass Ultimate on a trip to Disneyland Paris in peak summer season and found the cost was worth it. The time it saved us allowed us a lot more time to experience the parks.
Download the Disneyland Paris App
Make sure to download the Disneyland Paris App in advance. The App provides real-time wait times, dining reservation options, and entertainment schedules, making your visit smoother and more enjoyable. It’s worth playing around with the App before you visit. It’s a great way to learn about the park, how to get around the parks and see where the attractions are.
If you are staying at one of the on-site hotels your stay will show in your app and allow you to make dining reservations from the time you book your hotel.
Our other tips for planning your Disneyland Paris trip
We’ve spent a lot of time at Disneyland Paris over the years and have some extra tips that will help you make the most of your visit.
Plan your Meet and Greets
Everyone has their favourite Disney characters so it’s worth noting where their meet and greets are in the parks and making them a priority during your visit. Due to their popularity, some of the meet and greets lines can be over an hour long, for example, the Princess Pavilion and Meet Mickey Mouse. You will need to allow time in your day for these.
The most popular meet and greet in Disneyland Paris is the Princess Pavilion. This is the Princess meet and greet location at Disneyland Paris and due to the demand, consistently has the longest wait times. It’s also one of our favourites!
Check for Show and Ride Closures
Disneyland Paris releases the schedule of ride closures 3 months in advance, so it’s worth checking before your visit so you can plan around this.
Wear comfortable shoes
Visiting Disneyland Paris means you’re likely going to be doing a lot of walking during your trip. We regularly hit 20-25,000 steps during summer visits to the parks, so it’s important to wear comfortable shoes.
Pack for the weather
Disneyland Paris has quite changeable weather so it’s worth checking the weather forecast closer to your trip. Make sure to pack rain ponchos and layer your clothes for colder weather and early mornings and late evenings when it is cooler.
Plan your Snacks
Everyone will have their favorite snacks they have to try when visiting Disneyland Paris. From churros to turkey legs, there is a wide range of snacks on offer in both parks. It is worth knowing where the snacks are sold throughout the parks ahead of time so you know exactly where to go. Make sure to check out our current roundup of the best snacks at Disneyland Paris.
Know the Height Requirements for Attractions
Certain attractions at Disneyland Paris have minimum height requirements to ensure the safety of all guests. These requirements can vary, with some rides having no height requirement and others with a minimum height of 1.40 meters. It is worth knowing what attractions your group can go on in advance to avoid disappointment, especially if your children are keen to ride a particular attraction.
Most importantly, have fun!
This is our biggest tip for your trip to Disneyland Paris. You’ve done all the planning and preparation so make sure to take a deep breath during your visit and enjoy the trip. The most important thing is to have fun during your visit and go with the flow. We can almost guarantee you’ll be planning you’re return visit before you even leave!
